【letterman】 —(U.S.) a sportsman who has received some mark of distinction:

• He holds a Masters degree in Physical Education from the Citadel, where he was a three years 【letterman】 in football.

Note: The compound does not correlate in meaning with mailman—a person who delivers letters, etc. or collects them from the letter-boxes:

• Our mail was delivered by the mailman who drove his car to every mail box along his assigned route.

【man of letters】 —(formal) a scholar; a writer:

• To listen to the discoursing of an accomplished 【man of letters】 is always a pleasure.